Violence and Justice in Frontier Los Angeles

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Dr. John Mack Faragher, Howard R. Lamar Professor Emeritus of History & American Studies, Yale University

Dr. Faragher makes the case for mid-19th century Los Angeles as one of the most violent societies in history. Between 1830 and 1849, the homicide rate there was 113 homicides per 100,000 people. Today, the U.S. homicide rate is 4.5 per 100,000 people. Even the most violent regions of Medieval Europe had a rate of no more than 100. In the early days of Los Angeles, widespread domestic violence and public lynchings were common. Dr. Faragher looks at reasons for this, including the legacy of colonial conquest, antagonism among ethnic groups, conflicts over land and labor, and large numbers of transient men.